The vessel was moving ahead at approximately one knot only, but the drag on the line from the seven traps already laid was considerable. From the manner in which he was dragged from the vessel, it is likely that the deck-hand was standing in the bight of the line attached to the string of traps. Apart from the weight of the lobster trap, the deck-hand was further encumbered by his long waterproof trousers and heavy steel-toed boots. Because he was a non-swimmer, the shock of falling into the water under these circumstances may have disoriented him and hindered his ability to free himself once in the water. It is unknown why the deck-hand threw the end marker buoy over the side before the last trap was set, but it is likely that he miscounted the number of traps laid and thought that the string of eight traps had been deployed.Analysis The vessel was moving ahead at approximately one knot only, but the drag on the line from the seven traps already laid was considerable. From the manner in which he was dragged from the vessel, it is likely that the deck-hand was standing in the bight of the line attached to the string of traps. Apart from the weight of the lobster trap, the deck-hand was further encumbered by his long waterproof trousers and heavy steel-toed boots. Because he was a non-swimmer, the shock of falling into the water under these circumstances may have disoriented him and hindered his ability to free himself once in the water. It is unknown why the deck-hand threw the end marker buoy over the side before the last trap was set, but it is likely that he miscounted the number of traps laid and thought that the string of eight traps had been deployed. The deck-hand was dragged into the water by the line joining the lobster traps and the marker buoy. It is likely that he was outboard of the line and in its bight and was unable either to extricate himself from the line or to throw the last trap over the starboard side. The deck-hand, who was a non-swimmer, was neither wearing a flotation device nor was he attached to a lifeline. He was encumbered by his long waterproof trousers and heavy steel-toed boots. The shock of falling into the water may have disoriented the deck-hand and hindered his ability to free himself once in the water.Findings The deck-hand was dragged into the water by the line joining the lobster traps and the marker buoy. It is likely that he was outboard of the line and in its bight and was unable either to extricate himself from the line or to throw the last trap over the starboard side. The deck-hand, who was a non-swimmer, was neither wearing a flotation device nor was he attached to a lifeline. He was encumbered by his long waterproof trousers and heavy steel-toed boots. The shock of falling into the water may have disoriented the deck-hand and hindered his ability to free himself once in the water. The deck-hand was likely caught in the line joining the lobster traps and was pulled backward on the afterdeck and over the stern of the vessel by the considerable force exerted by the seven lobster traps and the marker buoy already deployed. The deck-hand, who was not wearing any form of flotation device, was encumbered by his inability to swim, his heavy boots and his long waterproof trousers.Causes and Contributing Factors The deck-hand was likely caught in the line joining the lobster traps and was pulled backward on the afterdeck and over the stern of the vessel by the considerable force exerted by the seven lobster traps and the marker buoy already deployed. The deck-hand, who was not wearing any form of flotation device, was encumbered by his inability to swim, his heavy boots and his long waterproof trousers.